Southwyck Mall
Southwyck Mall was a regional shopping mall in southern Toledo, Ohio, that operated from 1972 until 2008.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Southwyck Mall was a regional enclosed shopping mall in southern Toledo, Ohio. It opened in August 1972 under the development of Kansas City developers Frank Morgan and Sherman Dreiseszun and became a significant retail and entertainment destination for the surrounding Toledo market. Its original tenant mix included major department stores such as The Lion Store, Montgomery Ward, and Lamson's, together with inline specialty retailers and entertainment facilities. The mall's retail identity changed over time as its department-store anchors evolved. After Lamson's closed in the mid-1970s, its space was divided conceptually between a fashion-oriented Lion store and a home-furnishings operation known as Lion's for the Home. Following The Lion Store's acquisition by Dillard's, the two operations became Dillard's and Dillard's Home Store. This transition reflected the broader consolidation and rebranding of department-store chains that affected many American malls during the late twentieth century. Southwyck also experimented with themed retail and entertainment. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, it contained an area called Old Towne, reached through a narrow themed walkway from the main mall. The space used cobblestone-style streets and housed at least 30 smaller retailers, along with novelty arcade devices. Old Towne later closed, and part of the space was converted into three additional cinema screens operated by AMC. The mall had originally opened with a seven-screen cinema complex, described in AMC literature at the time as the world's first seven-plex. AMC also operated a separate eight-screen multiplex at the property. Both cinema operations were sold to National Amusements in 1995 and subsequently closed. The property entered a prolonged decline as anchor stores and inline tenants departed. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001 and its space remained vacant. Diamond's Men Shops, identified as the last original tenant, eventually relocated to a nearby strip center on Reynolds Road. Dillard's closed its home store and later moved its remaining operation to The Shops at Fallen Timbers in October 2007. After Dillard's, the final anchor, left, most of the mall's remaining inline stores also departed. Southwyck Mall closed permanently on June 29, 2008, after 36 years of operation. Redevelopment proposals called for the enclosed mall to be demolished and replaced by an outdoor shopping center. Demolition was completed by November 1, 2009; the Montgomery Ward automobile service center was reported to be the final structure removed. The former mall site was later occupied by Amazon distribution center DCL5. Southwyck is therefore best understood as a defunct local and regional shopping-center brand rather than an ongoing corporate retail business.
History
Southwyck Mall opened in August 1972 in southern Toledo, Ohio. It was developed by Kansas City developers Frank Morgan and Sherman Dreiseszun and was designed as a conventional enclosed regional mall with a group of department-store anchors and smaller specialty retailers. The opening tenant mix included The Lion Store, Montgomery Ward, and Lamson's. These anchors gave the property a broad merchandise offer spanning apparel, household goods, and general department-store retail. The mall's tenant structure changed during the 1970s. When Lamson's closed in the middle of that decade, its former space was adapted for Lion's for the Home, while The Lion Store continued with a fashion-oriented focus. The Lion Store was later acquired by Dillard's, and the two operations were rebranded as Dillard's and Dillard's Home Store. These changes preserved a major department-store presence for a time but also tied the mall's fortunes to the changing economics of traditional anchor retailers. Southwyck developed a distinctive themed section called Old Towne during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Accessed through a narrow walkway from the main mall, Old Towne used a cobblestone-street theme and contained at least 30 smaller retailers. It also included novelty arcade machines, including a device described as allowing visitors to play tic-tac-toe with a chicken. Old Towne eventually closed, and some of its space was converted into three additional cinema screens operated by AMC. Entertainment was an important part of the property's offer. Southwyck originally opened with a seven-screen cinema complex, which AMC promotional literature described at the time as the world's first seven-plex. AMC later operated another eight-screen multiplex at the mall. Both theater operations were sold by AMC to National Amusements in 1995 and eventually closed. The cinema history illustrates how Southwyck combined shopping with leisure uses in an effort to maintain visitor traffic. The property later experienced anchor and tenant losses. Montgomery Ward closed in 2001, and its former space remained vacant. Dillard's eventually closed its home store. Diamond's Men Shops, described as the last original tenant, left the mall for a nearby strip center on Reynolds Road. Dillard's moved to The Shops at Fallen Timbers in October 2007. Its departure removed the mall's final anchor and was followed by the departure of most of the remaining inline tenants. Southwyck Mall closed on June 29, 2008, after 36 years of operation. Plans were subsequently developed to replace the enclosed mall with an outdoor shopping center. By November 1, 2009, the mall had been completely demolished, and the Montgomery Ward automobile service center was reported as the final structure to be removed. The former Southwyck site later became the location of Amazon distribution center DCL5. The mall's history follows the broader pattern of an established American regional shopping center losing department-store anchors, adapting its entertainment and retail mix, and ultimately being replaced through redevelopment.
- 2009
Demolition is completed
[1]The property was completely demolished by November 1, with the Montgomery Ward automobile service center removed last.
- 2008
Mall closes
[1]Southwyck Mall permanently closed on June 29 after 36 years of business.
- 2007
Dillard's relocates
[1]Dillard's moved to The Shops at Fallen Timbers in October, leaving Southwyck without its final anchor.
- 2001
Montgomery Ward closes
[1]Montgomery Ward shut its Southwyck location, and the former anchor space remained vacant.
- 1995
AMC sells the mall cinemas
[1]AMC sold both of its Southwyck multiplex operations to National Amusements.
- 1978
Old Towne themed retail area operates
[1]During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Southwyck featured Old Towne, a themed retail section with cobblestone-style streets and at least 30 smaller retailers.
- 1975
Lamson's closes and its space is adapted
[1]After Lamson's closed in the mid-1970s, the space was used for Lion's for the Home while the other Lion operation focused on fashion.
- 1972
Southwyck Mall opens
[1]The mall opened in August in southern Toledo with The Lion Store, Montgomery Ward, Lamson's, specialty retailers, and cinema facilities.
Products and positioning
A regional enclosed shopping mall serving southern Toledo and the broader Northwest Ohio retail market, combining department-store anchors, specialty shops, themed retail space, and multiplex entertainment.
Department store · 1972
The Lion Store
The Lion Store was one of Southwyck Mall's original department-store anchors and provided fashion and general department-store merchandise. After the chain was acquired by Dillard's, the operation became a Dillard's store.
Home furnishings department store
Lion's for the Home
Lion's for the Home occupied the former Lamson's space after that retailer closed. It complemented the fashion-oriented Lion store with home-related merchandise before the broader Dillard's rebranding.
Department stores
Dillard's and Dillard's Home Store
Following the acquisition of The Lion Store, Dillard's operated the mall's principal department-store businesses, including a general merchandise location and a home-focused store. Dillard's later closed the home store and relocated its remaining Southwyck operation in 2007.
Cinema entertainment · 1972
AMC cinemas
Southwyck's entertainment offer included an original seven-screen cinema complex and a later eight-screen AMC multiplex. Three additional screens were created in space formerly associated with Old Towne. AMC sold both multiplex operations to National Amusements in 1995, and the theaters later closed.
Brand decisions
2008
Close the enclosed mall and pursue redevelopmentStrategyBackground
The mall lost its final anchor when Dillard's relocated in 2007, following earlier anchor and specialty-tenant departures.
Action taken
Southwyck Mall closed on June 29, 2008, and plans were made to demolish the enclosed property for an outdoor shopping center.
Aftermath
The mall was fully demolished by November 1, 2009. The former site later became the location of Amazon distribution center DCL5.
Recent events
- 2009
Southwyck Mall site is cleared[1]
Other
The mall was completely demolished by November 1, 2009, with the Montgomery Ward automobile service center reported as the last structure removed.
- 2008
Southwyck Mall closes after 36 years[1]
Other
Southwyck Mall closed on June 29, 2008, after the departure of Dillard's and most of the remaining inline tenants.
- 2007
Dillard's relocates to The Shops at Fallen Timbers[1]
Other · Leadership change
Dillard's moved from Southwyck Mall to The Shops at Fallen Timbers in October 2007, leaving the mall without its final anchor.
Sources1 sources
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